Job Title: Community Organizer

Organization: Justice for Migrant Families

Location: Buffalo, NY

Full Time, salaried position, $50,000

Benefits: Monthly health insurance stipend, Paid time off

Open until position is filled.

Please submit resume, cover letter and two references related to experience and skills to hr@jfmfwny.org using subject line “JFMF Community Organizer, [YOUR NAME].

The Justice for Migrant Families Organizer will advance justice, equity and freedom for immigrants in Buffalo and New York by organizing with community members who are directly impacted by immigration policy and enforcement, with volunteers and allies, and by working in coalition with partners in the city and state.

The organizer will build relationships with directly impacted community members in the WNY community, including people in immigrant detention. The organizer will attend coalition meetings and participate in campaign planning and connect community members to campaigns. They will convene and facilitate meetings of members and pursue a community-rooted agenda.

The Organizer will work collaboratively with the JFMF team. participate in regular JFMF team meetings and will take part in some general operational support such as coverage of organizational message platforms and on call times. The Organizer will contribute to the monthly newsletter; organizing grant applications, and organizing grant reporting.

Requirements

• Second language, able to interpret 

• Experience in direct community work

• Prior experience in community organizing

• Strong interpersonal and listening skills

• Clear and comprehensible oral and written communication

• Collaborative approach and orientation for creative problem solving

• Comfortable with using digital communications platforms and formatting graphics

• Ability to keep good records 

• Experience with immigration systems and policies, through personal or work experience

• Available to work some evenings, occasional weekend day; on average, one evening a week, and one weekend day per month, depending on event schedule

Initial training and orientation provided. 

Please submit resume, cover letter and two references related to experience and skills to hr@jfmfwny.org using subject line “JFMF Community Organizer, [YOUR NAME].

—————

Organizador(a) Comunitario

Jornada Completa, puesto asalariado, $50,000.

Sin fecha límite, hasta que se ocupe la plaza.

Beneficios: Estipendio mensual de seguro de salud.

El(la) organizador(a) participará en las reuniones periódicas del equipo de JFMF para apoyar sus áreas de trabajo a través de la supervisión, planificación, colaboración y apoyo y participará en el apoyo operativo general en las siguientes áreas; semanalmente, atender una de las líneas directas organizacionales un día a la semana de 4 a 8 pm, día por determinar, y dar cobertura a las plataformas de mensajes organizacionales; contribuir al boletín mensual; y contribuirá a organizar las solicitudes de subvenciones y la presentación de informes trimestrales.

Requisitos

• Inglés/Español bilingüe, con fluidez y poder traducir e interpretar

• Experiencia en trabajo comunitario directo

• Comprensión de la organización comunitaria

• Fuertes habilidades interpersonales y de escucha

• Comunicación oral y escrita clara y comprensible

• Enfoque colaborativo y orientación para la resolución creativa de problemas

• Cómodo con el uso de plataformas de comunicación digital y formateo de gráficos

• Capacidad para mantener buenos registros y usar plataformas de datos en línea

• Experiencia con sistemas y políticas de inmigración, a través de la experiencia personal o laboral

• Trabajará al menos una noche (después de las 4 pm) cada semana

Se alienta a los candidatos con conocimiento práctico de las definiciones legales de inmigración y / o habilidades, experiencia o antecedentes paralegales a postularse.

Se proporciona formación y orientación inicial. 

Envíe un currículum, una carta de presentación y dos referencias relacionadas con la experiencia y las habilidades a hr@jfmfwny.org y en el subjecto “Organizador(a) Comunitario, [SU NOMBRE]

JFMF is an equal opportunity employer that supports and lives diversity in our staffing and values. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women; people of color; immigrant, bilingual, and bicultural individuals; people from working class communities; and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming communities. Justice for Migrant Families complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

Organizer/Navigator

Justice for Migrant Families
Buffalo, NY
Full time, salaried
$45,000 + health insurance stipend
Spanish/English bilingual required

Applications on an ongoing basis

About the Role

The Organizer/Navigator provides on-the-ground support for immigrants in Buffalo and Western New York who are directly impacted by immigration policy and enforcement.

You'll serve as a bridge, guiding people across legal providers, city agencies and community organizations. While the role’s main emphasis is on navigation, you’ll also spend time building relationships with emerging leaders and advocates in the communities you serve.

We're looking for someone who can build trust with people from a wide range of backgrounds, stays calm when things are urgent, and follows through on the details that matter to people's cases. You might come to this work through your own experience of migration, through your community, or through past jobs.

This full-time position includes daytime hours plus some evenings and weekends: on average, one evening a week and one weekend day a month. You'll also be on call by phone one to two times a week. Benefits include four paid seasonal closures, paid federal holidays, 70 hours of PTO a year, and a monthly health insurance stipend.

What the Job Involves

Navigation and Direct Support

• Conduct intakes and provide ongoing follow-up and case support to community members

• Connect immigrants to legal service providers, social service organizations, and government representatives

• Accompany members to appointments such as social services, the DMV, immigration courts and local courts, providing transportation when needed

• Help community members use technology to access resources and services, including online portals and applications, agency websites, and video appointments

• Distribute financial mutual aid payments according to JFMF policy

• Keep current, confidential case notes, and keep community members promptly informed of updates and next steps

• Compile and maintain lists of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and resources

• Base building and leadership development

• Build relationships with a roster of community members and connect them to JFMF's community

• Turn people out for community meetings, events and campaign actions

• Identify emerging advocates and leaders in immigrant communities and support their growth through one-on-ones, training, and roles in meetings and events.

Language justice and outreach

• Interpret and translate for community members in JFMF programs

• Advocate for institutions to follow language access policies

• Present Know Your Rights and resource information through virtual or in-person presentations and community tabling events

• Work with the Program Director to identify service gaps and develop solutions

Organizational

• Take part in regular team meetings and supervision

• Keep your hours of availability current in shared calendars

• Coordinate accompaniment with other staff, volunteers and partner organizations

• Share on-call coverage and monitoring of messaging platforms

• Keep good records of volunteers you work with, and sign them up for the newsletter

• Contribute monthly to the newsletter, and to grant applications and reports as needed

• Give and receive feedback that is timely and direct

Qualifications 

Required

• Bilingual in English and Spanish, with the ability to write in both languages and interpret 

• Willingness to work both remotely and in person

• Valid driver's license, access to a car, and willingness to travel locally and occasionally for trainings and conferences

• Excellent project and time management skills

• Ability to keep good records

• Ability to respond to feedback; a learning mindset

• Cultural humility and the ability to interact with others in a non-judgmental, empathetic, and professional manner

• Understanding of immigration systems and policies, through personal or work experience

Preferred

• Previous social service or legal experience

• Existing relationship to immigrant communities

• A third language

Initial training and orientation are provided, along with ongoing training and professional development opportunities.

How to Apply

Studies show that people with marginalized identities often do not apply for positions when they feel they do not meet all qualifications, even when they would be competitive applicants. We encourage you to push past the imposter syndrome and apply anyway. We promise you others are doing the same.

Please submit a resume, cover letter and two references related to your experience and skills to hr@jfmfwny.org. Applications in Spanish are welcome. If you need accommodations to apply or interview, email us and we'll work with you.

Justice for Migrant Families is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship, sex, age, disability or marital status.

Development Director: Job Posting

Justice for Migrant Families
Buffalo, NY
Full time, salaried
$58,000–60,000 + health insurance stipend
Reports to the Executive Director

Apply by: [date]

About the Role

The Development Director cultivates and stewards the resources that sustain Justice for Migrant Families' organizing, navigation and detention work in Buffalo and Western New York.

You'll lead our fundraising and donor relationships, build a stronger board, and improve our grant reporting. Your job is to help JFMF stay steady and last, working closely with staff, board and community stakeholders.

Immigration work runs on frequent crises, and plans change when the world does, so you'll need to be able to work in that kind of environment. You’ll work with community members and staff, being protective of their time and being careful to share their stories only with care and consent.

You might come to this work through nonprofit development, organizing, or your own connection to immigrant communities. This full-time position is mainly daytime hours, with occasional evenings for events and board meetings. Benefits include four paid seasonal closures, paid federal holidays, 70 hours of PTO a year, and a monthly health insurance stipend.

What the Job Involves

Fundraising and donor relationships

●       Develop a sustainability strategy through close work with staff, board and stakeholders

●       Cultivate and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations and other funders

●       Lead donor communication and education, including appeals, updates and events

●       Lead grant research, writing and reporting, gathering program information from staff in ways that respect their time

Board development

●       Recruit, orient and support board members

●       Build the board’s capacity for fundraising, governance and financial oversight

Finances and operations

●       Monitor spending against the budget and keep key staff informed of funding restrictions and reporting needs

●       Work with the Executive Director and bookkeeper on budgets

●       Work closely with the Office Manager on donor records, gift acknowledgment and administrative systems

●       Supervise bookkeeper and work with external accountant and auditor as needed

Sustainability and organizational

●          Support executive director with overall organizational health and sustainability      

●       Together with the Executive Director develop and improve systems for organizational compliance, supervision, strategic planning, and team development

●       Help the team plan for crises without losing long-term direction

●       Keep your hours of availability current in shared calendars

●       Contribute monthly to the newsletter

●       Give and receive feedback that is timely and direct

Qualifications

Required

●       Experience with grants, donor cultivation and fundraising

●       Experience working with nonprofit boards

●       Working knowledge of budgets, compliance and bookkeeping for 501c3 organizations

●       2-3 years minimum Eexperience managing or supervising staff

●       Commitment to immigrant rights and justice-oriented work, and an ethical approach to storytelling

●       Comfort with changing priorities and a crisis-driven environment

●       Good written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to keep good records

●       Ability to respond to feedback; a learning mindset

Preferred

●       More than one language

●       Experience in a small or grassroots nonprofit

●       Existing relationship to immigrant communities

Initial training and orientation are provided, along with ongoing training and professional development opportunities.

How to Apply

Studies show that people with marginalized identities often do not apply for positions when they feel they do not meet all qualifications, even when they would be competitive applicants. We encourage you to push past the imposter syndrome and apply anyway. We promise you others are doing the same.

Please submit a resume, cover letter and two references related to your experience and skills to hr@jfmfwny.org. Applications in Spanish are welcome. If you need accommodations to apply or interview, email us and we'll work with you.

Justice for Migrant Families is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship, sex, age, disability or marital status.

Director of Organizing and Navigation

Justice for Migrant Families
Buffalo, NY
Full time, salaried

$58,000–60,000

Reports to the Executive Director

Applications ongoing

About the Role

The Program Director leads Justice for Migrant Families' organizing and navigation work in Buffalo and Western New York, as we grow our capacity to support immigrant communities and build their power.

You'll manage a Buffalo-based team of an Organizer, an Organizer/Navigator and a part-time Community Navigator, and hold the framework that connects direct support to organizing. You'll set that structure collaboratively through meetings, input sessions, and planning processes for staff and communities. You'll also represent JFMF with community members, partner organizations and coalitions.

We're looking for someone who is a steady, generous supervisor, can hold a clear direction while staying open to input, and stays grounded when things are urgent. Immigration work runs on frequent crises, so you'll need to be comfortable adjusting plans without losing sight of long-term goals. You might come to this work through organizing, community services, your own experience of migration, or some mix of these.

This full-time position includes daytime hours plus some evenings and occasional weekends. Benefits include four paid seasonal closures, paid federal holidays, 70 hours of PTO a year, and a monthly health insurance stipend.

What the Job Involves

Team leadership

• Supervise, support and develop the organizing and navigation staff through regular one-on-ones and team meetings

• Establish clear, shared standards of performance across programs, and help staff meet them

• Hire, onboard and train new staff alongside the Executive Director

• Balance workloads 

Strategy and structure

• Develop organizing and navigation goals and strategy collectively with staff, members, board and other JFMF stakeholders

• Lead an iterative planning process that looks at where we came from, where we are, and where we want to go

• Design strategies to support people moving from receiving support to advocacy and leadership

• Facilitate meetings, input sessions and planning retreats

• Evaluate programs and adjust as community needs and the political landscape change

Programs

• Guide campaign work which may include::  ICE enforcement and family separation, policing, conditions at the Batavia detention center, worker rights and climate organizing

• Coordinate on Batavia strategy with the detention team

• Oversee intake, referral, case support and accompaniment systems, and the records that go with them

Relationships and organizational

• Build and maintain relationships with community members, partner organizations, coalitions, and city and state partners

• Provide program information and data for grant applications and reports

• Keep your hours of availability current in shared calendars

• Contribute monthly to the newsletter

• Give and receive feedback that is timely and direct

Qualifications

Required

• Ability to supervise or develop staff, ideally in organizing, advocacy, community services or a related field

• Community organizing experience, including leadership development

• Skill in facilitation and collaborative decision-making

• Comfort leading through frequent crises and changing priorities while keeping the team steady

• Strong understanding of immigration systems and policies, through personal or work experience

• Good written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to keep good records

• Access to reliable transportation

• Ability to respond to feedback; a learning mindset

• Cultural humility and the ability to interact with others in a non-judgmental, empathetic, and professional manner

Preferred

• A language other than English, especially Spanish

• Existing relationship to immigrant communities in Western New York

• Experience with detention-related advocacy

• Experience with program evaluation or grant reporting

• Initial training and orientation are provided, along with ongoing training and professional development opportunities.

How to Apply

Studies show that people with marginalized identities often do not apply for positions when they feel they do not meet all qualifications, even when they would be competitive applicants. We encourage you to push past the imposter syndrome and apply anyway. We promise you others are doing the same.

Please submit a resume, cover letter and two references related to your experience and skills to hr@jfmfwny.org. Applications in Spanish are welcome. If you need accommodations to apply or interview, email us and we'll work with you.

Justice for Migrant Families is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship, sex, age, disability or marital status.